Volume 7, Issue 11 February 7, 2005

This NewsCast is being provided to you as part of your Group 1 product maintenance and support plan. It is not intended for distribution outside of your Group 1 user base. Group 1 has taken the best security measures possible to protect your identity on this announce-only distribution list.
Inside this issue of Newscast, look for articles concerning the following topics:

1. Technical Services Documentation Updates
2. Technical Services Pending Product Updates
3. Horizons 2005 - 3 for 2 Special!
4. Did You Know . . .
5. Group 1 University - CBT is All the Rage
6. Local User Groups - Attend a Meeting Today
7. Important Notice to ALL Group 1 Customers

    Archives and Links
1. Technical Services Documentation Updates

Group 1 recently sent the documents listed below to the primary user contacts on a maintenance plan via mass fax, mail, or with your product shipment. You may find these and other documents at www.g1.com/support. (Please have your user ID and password handy.) For List Services, visit the Technical Support - List Services area of our Web site to subscribe at www.g1.com/support.

On our Web site, customers may NOT have access to all information listed below. It is only accessible if your company licenses the particular product and/or platform addressed by the announcement.

CENTRUS PRODUCTS

REF#: CAA000P1105 - This one page letter announces the change from Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) to Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs). The January 2005 release of Centrus Data Products will be the final release containing the MSA data.
LOC: WEB DIST: In Box PLAT: All LIST SERVICES: Centrus/Geo Products

REF#: CAA000P2105 - This one-page letter notifies Centrus customers of the shipment of the January 2005 release of Centrus Products on CD and DVD. This release synchronizes with the USPS® ZIP+4 release for January 2005.
LOC: WEB DIST: In Box PLAT: All LIST SERVICES: Centrus/Geo Products

REF#: CAA000T2105 - This one-page letter provides customers subscribed to the Centrus e-mail notification list with information regarding the Group 1 List Services. The Centrus lists will be discontinued on Friday, February 11, 2005. Customer are encouraged to subscribe to the Centrus/Geo List Services list.
LOC: WEB DIST: Mass E-mail PLAT: All LIST SERVICES: N/A

REF#: CAA000T1205 - This one-page letter informs all Centrus Windows NT customers that effective December 31, 2005, Group 1 will no longer support the Windows NT Server 4.0 operating system.
LOC: WEB DIST: Mass E-mail/In Box PLAT: All LIST SERVICES: Centrus/Geo Products

CODING PRODUCTS

REF#: NLK200P1105 - This two-page letter announces the release of VeriMove™ 2.0.0. This is a regulatory release and media will be shipped to all customers. All current NCOALink customers must install and process jobs using the VeriMove™ solution by February 5, 2005. Additional information concerning this release is provided in the letter.
LOC: WEB DIST: In Box PLAT: All LIST SERVICES: Coding Products

REF#: GTX320P1105 - This one-page letter informs all GeoTAX customers that with the anticipated January 2005 release of GeoTAX 4.0.0, Group 1 will no longer provide support for any compiler-required operating system on the UNIX platform for this product.
LOC: WEB DIST: Mass Fax PLAT: UNIX LIST SERVICES: Coding Products

REF#: GTX320P2C04 - This two-page letter informs all GeoTAX Client/Server and GeoTAX -Web customers that we will be ending support of the product beginning December 15, 2005. GeoTAX Client/Server and GeoTAX -Web will be replaced by GeoTAX Enterprise Series 4.0.0.
LOC: WEB DIST: Mass Fax PLAT: All LIST SERVICES: Coding Products

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

REF#: AAA000T3205 - This one page letter notifies Group 1 Software's Enterprise Solutions Division of the change from .EXE files to .ZIP files on the Internet downloads available from the Group 1 Web site. This change will be effective beginning March 1, 2005. Additional information is available in the letter referenced above.
LOC: WEB DIST: Mass E-mail/Mass Fax PLAT: All LIST SERVICES: All lists

OTHER PRODUCTS

REF#: HDR400RA105 - This three-page letter notifies customers of the availability of HotData Real Time 4.0.0. Version 4.0.0 contains additional and improved functionality. This release is not backward compatible. Internet download availability only.
LOC: WEB DIST: Mass E-mail PLAT: All LIST SERVICES: N/A

PITNEY BOWES PRODUCTS

REF#: PAA000T2105 - This two-page letter provides Pitney Bowes customers with critical information regarding VeriMove™ 2.0.0 and with important ForwardTrak Plus information.
LOC: Not available at this time DIST: Mass E-mail PLAT: All LIST SERVICES: N/A




2. Technical Services Pending Product Updates

The following documents have recently been posted to the Pending Product Updates area of the Group 1 Support site. Once a Product Update becomes available, Group 1 will notify the primary user contact for that product via mass fax. You may find these and other documents at www.g1.com/support/. (Please have your user ID and password handy.)

On our Web site, customers may NOT have access to all information listed below. It is only accessible if your company licenses the particular product and/or platform addressed by the announcement.

CODING PRODUCTS

REF#: GPz510S1B04 - This two-page letter contains details regarding the Pending Product Update S01 for Geographic Coding Plus 5.1.0. Status of this update will be available on the Group 1 Web site, log in to Support, Software Updates.
DIST: Will be mass-faxed upon availability PLAT: All Anticipated Availability of S01: 03/01/2004




3. Horizons 2005 - 3 for 2 Special!
 
3 for 2 Special
Register TODAY!
Offer ends April 30, 2005

Don't want to miss out on this great opportunity to save! Register online or fax your registration to Group 1 Software, Attention Conference Registrar, at 301-918-0464 and take advantage of this great discount. With only a few months until Horizons 2005, don't miss your chance to participate in informative sessions presented by Group 1 associates and leading industry experts on DOC1, Enterprise Solutions, Sagent and Centrus products.

While you're there, stop by the Technical Help Center to speak with technical support representatives, developers, pre-sales and professional service representatives on hand to help you. Stop in at the Solutions Center and get your questions answered and learn about some of the newest technology from Group 1 vendors and business partners.

For more information about Horizons 2005 including conference highlights, session descriptions, and guest speakers as well as hotel accommodations, visit our Web site at http://www.g1.com/uconf.




4. Did You Know . . .

. . . The current Centrus Web site will be moving to the Group 1 Web site, http://www.g1.com/, within the next two weeks. All Centrus customers who currently subscribe to one of the Centrus e-mail notification lists - Send All Information or Send Critical Information Only and wish to continue receiving updates concerning Centrus products, please visit the Group 1 Web site, log in to Support and click on List Services. For more information, please refer to document CAA000T2105 available to all Centrus customers on the Group 1 Support site, http://www.g1.com/support, login to Support, Documentation, Customer Communications.

. . . The Education Department is providing a FREE one-day "What's New in MailStream Plus 7.5.0" class for all MailStream Plus customers. This class can be taken via eLearning training or as a public seminar at the following Group 1 Regional Training Facilities:

  • Lanham, Maryland
  • Irvine, California
  • Downers Grove, Illinois

Class dates and times for the "What's New in MailStream Plus 7.5.0" class will be provided in the MailStream Plus 7.5.0 Pre-Release Announcement. For more information about this class or other Group 1 University offerings, please visit the Group 1 University Web site at http://www.g1.com/education.

. . . The USPS has changed the terminology used when referring to packages of mail. For example, "3-digit packages" are now "3-digit bundles." More information on this change or for other industry updates, visit the USPS® Web site and take a look at the latest Mailer's Companion - http://www.usps.com/mailerscompanion/.




5. Group 1 University - CBT is All the Rage

Group 1 Software's "Fundamentals of Mail" class as an interactive CBT (Computer-based Training) is all the rage! Learn from the convenience of your desktop.

The new CD version of Group 1's popular "Fundamentals of Mail/Preparing Mail for Automation Discounts" class is still available from the Group 1 Education Department and there are still a few free copies available. This CD contains the same content as the one-day instructor-led class by the same name. There are even quizzes and tests to measure what you've learned.

Learn the basics of preparing mail for delivery by the USPS® at the most favorable rate at your own pace. This CBT program helps you train new employees without having to send them away from the office.

This course covers:

  • Direct mail and the USPS® Delivery System
  • Mail classes and business mail preparation
  • Postal discounts
  • Automation requirements
  • Trays, bags, and pallets
  • Postal terminology
  • Setting up your first mailing.

A few of this $500 value are available - FREE - from Group 1's Education Department. To request your copy, email your name, company name, address and phone number to education@g1.com. Type the words "Free Fun of Mail CD" in the subject line. Allow 3 weeks for delivery. One per company please.




6. Local User Groups - Attend a Meeting Today

Local User Groups are an integral part of Group 1 Software. With groups located throughout the United States, many opportunities are available where users can meet and discuss important topics concerning their company and Group 1 Software. Meetings provide a method for addressing concerns and sharing ideas. It is a great way to bring new and useful information back to your company. Take a look at the list below and attend the meeting that is most convenient for you.

Local User Group chapters are open to ALL Group 1 customers. Membership and registration are handled on a local level. Group 1 clients are invited and encouraged to join the group of their choice.

PHILADELPHIA AREA

Location: UGI Utilities, Inc., 225 Morgantown Rd, Reading, PA
Date: February 2005/March 2005
Time: A more specific date and time will be provided in a future issue.
Topic: Possible site visit.
Contact: Susan Miller - smmiller@ugi.com
Please click here for a summary of the November 17, 2004 meeting.




7. Important Notice to ALL Group 1 Customers

Beginning on March 1, 2005, Group 1 Software will begin using the .ZIP format for all files being offered for download from our Web site. This change allows the direct download of software, software updates and databases to the target platform thus removing the need to extract the contents on a Windows PC first. Currently, these files are available in an .EXE format.

Software, software updates and databases currently available for download from the Group 1 Web site will remain in the .EXE format. As new releases, databases and software updates become available for download, they will be offered only in the .ZIP format. If your company does not currently own an unzip utility, there are several different free utilities available for download from the Internet. (Note: Group 1 neither endorses nor supports any of these products.)

If you have any questions, please create a service request by going to http:// www.g1.com/Support, and logging in to Support. Under the Technical Support heading, click eService/Knowledge Base.




Archives and Links

Back issues of Newscast are being archived. Click previous issues to go the Newscast homepage to review any prior issues.

Below are some links that may be of interest to our customers:

Group 1's Web Page - http://www.g1.com. The Group 1 Software Web site provides customers with valuable information concerning different areas of the company. From this Web site, you can access education information, recent press releases, support, and much more useful information.

USPS® Web Site Business Section - http://www.usps.com/smallbiz

The USPS® Web Site - http://www.usps.gov. This Web site allows customers to check out the latest information regarding postage rates and fees, news and events in the postal community, locations of local post offices, and provides various other links. There is also a place where postal service customers can track the status of a package or access other online mailing forms.

Canada Post - http://www.canadapost.ca/splash.asp. This is the direct link to the Canada Post Web site. Follow this link to view a quick and free course in Canadian NDG sorting (http://www.canadapost.ca/business/ndg/default-e.asp).

USPS Rapid Information Bulletin Board System - http://ribbs.usps.gov. This is the National Customer Support Center for the United States Postal Service. It provides you mail-service updates, current weather conditions, and other interesting facts pertaining to the Postal Service.

Postal Rate Commission - http://www.prc.gov. The Postal Rate Commission Web site provides information about the organization, its function and procedures, along with postal rates and fees. It also provides a location where you can voice your opinion to the Consumer Advocate.

Nonprofit Mailers - http://www.nonprofitmailers.org. The Alliance is the primary representative of nonprofit mailers before the Postal Rate Commission, at the United States Postal Service's (USPS®) Headquarters, and on Capitol Hill.

Postcom - http://www.postcom.org. Postcom is the Association for Postal Commerce. Its Web site provides you with up-to-date information regarding what is going on in the "postal world." It includes links to other helpful sites, as well as a place to contact your US Senators or Representatives.




We welcome comments and suggestions regarding Newscast. Please send them to cc@g1.com. Please be sure to include "NEWSCAST" in your subject line. Please look for your next issue to arrive in your e-mail box on or near February 25, 2005.

Newscast - Volume 7, Issue 11
Date: February 7, 2005
Editor: Becki Dustin (cc@g1.com) Asst. Editor: Denny Derr
Phone: 1-800-367-6950

Copyright © Group 1 Software, Inc. 2005. All Rights Reserved.

CASS, CASS Certified, DPV™, eLOT, FASTforward, NCOALink, Postal Service, Post Office, RDI™, United States Post Office, USPS®, United States Postal Service, ZIP Code™, and ZIP+4 are registered trademarks of United States Postal Service (USPS®). This list is not exhaustive of the trademarks belonging to the Postal Service.

Group 1 Software is a non-exclusive licensee of USPS® for FASTforward processing.

Prices for Group 1's products, options and services are not established, controlled or approved by USPS® or United States Government. When utilizing RDI™ data to determine parcel-shipping costs, the business decision on which parcel delivery company to use is not made by the USPS® or United States Government.

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